Interlock



May 8, 1945. w. F. REGENHARDT INTERLOCK Filed Nov. 12, 1940 Patented May8, 1945 UNITED gSTATES PATENT oI-Flcs Walter F. Regnnellianrgveland,Ohio Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 365,231

8 Claims.

An object of the present invention is 'to provide Afor interlocking twogenerally flat elements by a generally flat key, the flat elementshaving registering openings for receiving a leg of the key and the legof the key having a shoulder which abuts the edge of the opening in oneof the elements to prevent accidental withdrawal of the key. l

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein apreferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearlydisclosed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a plurality of individualille cases showing the lower part of one case interlocked with the topportion of another case and the lower portion of a third case about tobe positioned on the top of the ilrst mentioned case, the section of thelower two cases being taken on line l-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top view, in section, of the file cases shown in Fig. 1, thesection being taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary view, in section and on a larger scale, showinginterlocking parts of the cases, the section being taken on' line 3-3 ofFig. 2, and v k Fig. 4 is a top view of the improved locking Although,the present invention relates generally to interlocking two elements,for the purpose of illustrating a preferred form of the invention, Ihave shown ya plurality of individual ille cases interlocked wall towall by my invention. In the specic illustration, the filel cases areshown in stacked relationship.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a fragmentarysectional view of the lower part of a case 20, a sectional view of acase 2| and a fragmentary sectional view of the upper part of a case 22.'I'hese vcases are adapted to be stackedand interlocked for forming aunitary filing cabinet. Each of the cases `comprises a sleeve formed bya sheet of metal, which sleeve includes side walls 2i and 26a bottomwall 21 and a top wall 28. The ends of the sheet forming the sleeve maybe secured together, preferably at the bottom by butt welding oroverlapped and then welded as is shown in' Fig. 2. A reenforcing ring 30is disposed within the front end of the case and is suitably secured tothe sheet metal walls as by welding. The back of each case is closed bya sheetmetal wall 3l. Each of the cases receives a drawer (not shown)through the open front thereof and the rear of the bot'- tom wall of thedrawer may be provided with spaced gliders for supportingthe rearportion of the drawer. 'I'he construction thus far specificallydescribed is similar to the le cases shown in my Patent No. 2,123,803issued July l2, 1938.

The top wallof each of the cases isl pierced and bent to form two spacedopenings 31 and ledges 38. The bottom wall of each case is similarlypierced and` bent to provide `two spaced tongues 39, kwhich tongues areadapted to be received in the openings 31 in the top wall of another ofthe cases. The tongues 39 are` inserted in the openings 31 by placingone case onk the top wall of another case, with the side wallsV inalignment, and then sliding the uppermost case rearwardly as is clearlyillustrated in Fig. l. 'The tongue 39 is adapted to engage the undersideof the top wall of the lower case for preventing the rear of the uppercase from being raise the lower case. y i V ,l u y The front ends of thecases are rattached vby my improved interlocking mechanism.4 Thismechanism is formed by piercing the bottom walls of the cases to providetwo spaced. openings 4| and shearing and bulging the top walls`f, thecase to form projecting or locking members, The locking members 42 areadapted to extend through the openings 4| when one of the cases isstacked on the other with the tongues 39 in the opening v31 as describedabove. This is shown in the lower left hand part of Fig. l and in Fig;3. The side walls of the openings 4| are arranged to closely embrace theside walls of the locking members 42 for maintaining the cases inalignment.

ders 45,and the undersides of the top wall ofthe members 42 provideabutments 46 facing the walls 21 and 28 when the members 42y areinserted through the openings 4| in the vwall 21. When themembers 42 arein position in the openings 4I, part of the mouths of the recesses 43and part of the shoulders 45 project above,` the by the edge of theopenings 4|.

.bottom wc-allf21gofl the next upper case. It is to be unaerstodtiiattheopenings 4| and the locking membersj4 2 may: beprovided on any of theadjacent' wallsl of the cases but in the preferred enibodimenttheopenings 4l are formed in the "bottom .wall 21Y and the locking members42 are "formed, on the top wall 28.

' 'A key-411s provided for interlocking the adjacent' wallsof j thecases. Preferably this key is fbrmedfofaflexible resilient sheetmetalfand is part lof section 58 upon the tops of the locking y members42 and forcing the ends of legs 48 downwardly into alignmentwith themouths 44 of the recesses 43, and then pulling the key for- Wardly untilthe projecting portions 54 of the Section() are moved over thepforwardendsof theflocling' members 42. Since the key 41 is i ',edj of resilientmaterial the section 58 can .be e'xe'd relative to the legs 48 to movethe pro- 'jetlmrigportions 54 over the tops of the locking members andthe portions 54 are then biased againstthe wall 21 in alignment with theshoulders 45'.; The shoulders 55 on vthe portions 54 are adapted to abutthe shoulders 445 of the locking members 42 to aid in preventingaccidental removal of the key 41. When the key is in the lockingposition, the legs 48 extend'alongside the abutment 46 on the interiorof the lower case and the cams 5| of the legs 48 are in the open-v ings4I-and the shoulders 52, formed by the cams 5I, are in alignment withshoulders 51 formed The shoulders 52 'and 51 abut one another when `thekeyis urged rearwardly, with respect to the cases, for preventingaccidental removal of the key.

The material from which the key 41 is rformed is suiliciently flexibleso that leg 58 can be lifted either by ones fingerl or a small tool, andin order to unlock the cases, it'is necessary only to lift upwardly onthe forward end of the key leg 58 andpush rearwardly on the key. Theshoulders 52 of the cams' 5I will cause spreading of the abutment 46 andthe walls 21 and 28 for removing the legs 48 from the recesses 42 of thelocking members 42. Then by lifting the unlocked case so thatV theopenings 4I are clear of they members 42 and then by pulling forwardlyon the unlocked oase to remove the tongues 38 from their:l engagementwith the underside of the top ment of the drawer. By using my improvedinterlock, the height of the gliders on the drawers may be very slightto cause the drawers to pass over the interlock.

While the form ofl embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

I claim: f

A1. In combination, an element having an opening therethrough; a secondelement including a locking member having a part projecting through theopening in the first mentioned element and having an abutment spacedfrom and facing said first mentioned element; and a key for locking themember in the opening, said key including a leg extending between theabutment and the first mentioned element, said leg having a shoulderextending in the opening in the rst mentioned element for abutting thefirst mentioned element at an edge of said opening.

2. In combination, an element having an open- 'ing therethrough; asecond element including a locking member having a part projectingthrough the opening in the rst mentioned element and having an abutmentspaced from and facing the first mentioned element; and a key forlocking the member in the opening, said key including a leg extendingbetween the abutment .and the first mentioned element, said leg having ashoulder extending in the opening in the first mentioned element forabutting .the iirst mentioned elements at an edge of said opening, thesaid shoulder forming a cam for moving the key in the direction of saidabutment when the key 'is moved from the 'locking member.

3. In combination, an element having an opening therethrough; a secondvelement including a locking member having a part projecting through theopening in the first mentioned element and having an opening in one endand having an abutment facing in the direction of said first mentionedelement and a locking key including a yoke, a leg extending from theyoke into the opening in the projecting part of the locking member, saidleg having a shoulder'extending in the opening in the nrst mentionedelement for abutting the first mentioned element at an edge of saidopening, and said key having a section extending f from the yoke andalongside the projecting part of the locking member and engaging thefirst mentioned element.

wall 28, the case can be removed from the cabl inet.

'I'he thickness of the materials shown in the drawing, including thereenforcing ring 88, have v `been exaggerated for the purpose of clearlyshowall of the elements of the invention, but it is apparent from thedisclosure that when vthese materials are of proper thickness, I havepro--A vided an interlocking mechanism which requires only the minimumamount of space. Preferably the locking mechanism at the front end ofthe cases is interposed :between the paths of the drawer gliders andtherefore such mechanism does not obstruct or hinder the gliding move-4. In combination, an element having an openfing therethrough; a secondelement including a locking member having a part projecting through theopening in the first mentioned element, said projecting part having anopening in one end and having an abutment `facing inthe direction of'said first mentioned element and a shoulder on the wall opposite saidopening; and a locking key including a yoke, a leg extending from theyoke into the opening in -the projecting part of the lockixm member,said leg having a shoulder extending in the opening in the firstmentioned element for abutting the iirst mentioned element at an edge ofsaid opening, and said key'having a section extending from the yoke andalongside .the projecting part of the locking member, said sectionhaving a shoulder for abutting the rst mentioned shoulder when the legextends in the opening in the locking member, said section and leg beingflexible and resilient with respect to one another so that the shoulderof the section can be erating for preventing accidental removal of theexed over the locking member when the key is inserted or removed fromthe locking member. 'y

5. In combination, an element having an opening therethrough one Wall ofthe opening forming a shoulder; a second element including a lockingmember having a part projecting through the opening in the firstelement, said part having a shoulder facing in the same direction as thenrst mentioned shoulder, said locking member having an abutment spacedfrom and facing the first mentioned element; and a key for locking themember in the opening, said key including a leg extending between theabutment and the rst mentioned element, said key having a shoulderfacing the first mentioned shoulder when the leg is in the lockingmember and a section extending alongside the locking member, saidsection having a shoulder facing the second mentioned shoulder when thekey is in locking position.

6. In combination, an element having an opening therethrough one wall ofsaid opening forming a shoulder; a second element including a lockingmember having a part projecting through the opening in the rst element,said projecting part having a shoulder facing in the same direction asthe first mentioned shoulder, said locking member having an abutmentspaced from and facing the first mentioned element; and a key forlocking the member in the opening, said key including a leg extendingbetween the abutment and the first mentioned element and a sectionadapted to extend alongside the locking member, said section beingflexible and resilient with respect to the leg, said section having ashoulder adapted to be nexed over the locking member when the leg isinserted between the abutment and the nrst mentioned element, the lastmentioned shoulder engaging the second mentioned shoulder when the keyis in locking position, and means forming a second shoulder on the key,the last mentioned shoulder being adapted to engage the nrst mentioned(shoulder, said shoulders coopkey from the locking member.

7. In combination, two generally nat elements arranged with outersurfaces in contact, one of said elements having an opening providedtherein, an onset portion on the other element, said onset portionextending through the opening in K the rst element, and key means forpreventing separation of said elements, said key means including a flatyoke with a plurality of legs extending therefrom in the same direction,the yoke and one leg engaging the inner surface of the first element onopposite sides of said opening, the other leg engaging the inner surfaceof said onset portion, the last mentioned leg having a shoulder facingtoward said yoke and abutting the edge of the first element at saidopening to prevent accidental Withdrawal of said leg.

8. In combination, two generally flat elements arranged with surfaces incontact, one of said elements having an opening formed therein, an

onset portion on the other element, said onset portion extending throughthe opening in said first element and engaging certain edges thereof,said offset portion having an abutment spaced from and facing said rstelement, said onset portion having an open side, and key means forsecuring said elements in position, said key means having a yoke portionwith a tongue projecting into the open side of the onset portion of saidsecond element, said tongue having a cam portion terminating in ashoulder, the combined thickness of said tongue and cam portion beinggreater than the relative distance between the nrst element and theabutment of said onset portion, said cam serving to flex adjacentportions of said elements during movement of said tongue into and out ofsaid onset portion whereby said shoulder will engage an edge of saidopening to prevent accidental withdrawal of said tongue.

WALTER F. REGENHARDT.

